A Parking Space for a Tip
My father-in-law drives his pickup truck toward the accessible parking space right at the entrance to the shopping center. When the parking attendant approaches, he hands him a twenty-peso bill. The attendant nods with a friendly smile, and we go shopping.
Twenty Pesos and an Economy of Mutual Favors
Inside the store, my father-in-law explains that his generous tip in the parking lot always gets him a good parking space near the entrance. The arrangement also benefits the parking attendant. At the time, the minimum wage in Mexico was 150 pesos a day. If the attendant could rent out the accessible parking spaces eight times a day for an additional 20 pesos each, he would already have earned the equivalent of the minimum daily wage.
When we return to the truck after shopping, an assistant to the parking attendant comes toward us, takes the shopping cart, and loads the groceries onto the bed of the pickup. He receives a tip as well. This is how the economy works on a small scale.
The Other Side of the Tipping System
The tipping system and this economy of generosity may appear to work and to benefit everyone involved, but it is important to question the problems beneath the surface. Depending on tips to supplement low wages reveals how inadequately many workers are paid. It also points to the wider problem of income inequality faced by people in precarious employment. Even if such arrangements offer temporary satisfaction, the underlying systemic problems must be addressed if we want a fairer society for everyone.